The Beyoncé Experience Launches Global Anti-Hunger Initiative

HOUSTON, TX -- Grammy Award-winning singer, songwriter and actress Beyoncé announced today that she is joining her minister and friend Pastor Rudy Rasmus, the Global FoodBanking Network and Aidmatrix® to launch an international virtual food drive initiative. Beyoncé says, "Reaching out and touching lives is incredibly empowering, that's why I want my fans to experience more than my music. I want them to experience the joy of making a difference by helping someone else."

The virtual food drive provides an easy way to get food to those who need it most:

-- It's customized: You select from a shopping list that is appropriate for each country.
-- It's efficient: The Global FoodBanking Network can leverage your donation to acquire more food than you would be able to buy in a grocery store with your donation.
-- It's effective: Your donation is quantified. For illustrative purposes, you can see how many people you are helping.
-- It's innovative: Aidmatrix uses technology through the Internet to connect donors to those in need, so anyone who logs onto the website can aid with Hunger.

Pastor Rudy adds: "This unique partnership gives everyone the opportunity to make a difference, regardless of location or resources. In Ethiopia, Turkey and India even a small contribution can help feed many people."

Hunger is a problem that exists in all countries. Statistics show that it affects families where both parents are working but struggle to make ends meet; it affects seniors who find themselves with limited access to transportation and food; and it affects millions of children around the world who may not know where they will find their next meal. In countries like Ethiopia, Turkey and India, hunger is often the most significant cause of disease and death.

Beyoncé asks her fans to help. "I want to encourage people to get involved in the fight against world hunger, in Pastor Rudy's ongoing mission to help the least among us, and in the work of The Global FoodBanking Network. Any help -- by donating even a small amount -- can make an enormous difference."

Beyoncé grew up attending St. John's Church with Pastor Rudy, where she learned at a young age the importance of reaching out and helping those who are less fortunate. Pastor Rudy is an urban prophet and humanitarian committed to ending hunger in the world. He is the author of a new book entitled "Touch" which profiles his unique brand of sharing radical love and hospitality in a broken world and a new music project (the book's sound track) entitled "The Pastor Rudy Experience." "I am committed to touching and changing the world... one life at a time," Pastor Rudy says. www.pastorrudy.net

The Global FoodBanking Network is an international organization that works collaboratively to reduce world hunger by securing more food and enhancing the ability to efficiently distribute food through food banks and the food bank network around the world. www.foodbanking.org

Aidmatrix delivers powerful solution tools to connect those who have, with those in need. Aidmatrix mobilizes more than $1.5 billion in aid annually, helping to get the "Right Aid to the Right People at the Right Time™." www.aidmatrix.org